Yup, we've outlawed cutting trees. We are getting rid of damns for power. We don't allow fishing anymore; and now we finish off the grass industry. What the heck is Oregon going to produce? Oh yeah, art stuff, you go Oregon. Please quit wondering why we are number 2 in unemployment.

I visited eastern Oregon this past week. I can see why the rest of the state is fed up with Portlanders making the rules in Salem, and snuffing out their way of life in the process. This stupid law is one more example. So enjoy your organic beef while you can, because I'm certain one day that raising cattle will be outlawed as well.

I hate the fact field burning is going away but understand it's going to happen. So farmers, get ready to use even more chemicals that will run off into the waterways. That is until that practice is stopped by the legislature too.

So why do we have all these laws to save farmland from development when we are running farmers out of business?

There were those seven people killed in 1988 in that horrible inferno on I-5 just north of Eugene, caused by field burning smoke reducing visibility to near zero. That may or may not have been the last time, but it was certainly memorable. Of course that was over 20 years ago now; it probably doesn't count anymore.

Road Work

Miles run year to date: 113
At this date last year: 155
Total run in 2016: 155
In 2015: 271
In 2014: 401
In 2013: 257
In 2012: 129
In 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269